The Invisible Parade

Bardugo and Picacio collaborate on a stirring story of personal and familial observance in this sweeping work. As young Cala’s family readies for the Día de los Muertos celebration, the girl feels deep grief about the death of her grandfather, whose scarlet scarf she wears over a skeleton suit. While the family prepares by cooking, picking up loaves of orange-scented bread and bunches of marigolds, and building an ofrenda, Cala cannot help but lament. Upon entering the cemetery, she becomes lost, encountering four elaborately depicted horsemen, each of which stands for a specific concept. The fourth, Death, shows Cala a magnificent “invisible parade”—the living and dead joyfully mingling—and explains both that “I am nothing to fear” and that her ancestors are with her still. Truly captivating graphite-rendered artwork layers in cultural cues while moving from sepia to saturated jewel tones, and intentionally paced, chapter-book-like narration plumbs moving connections between grieving and rejoicing. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Creator notes conclude. Ages 5–9. (Aug.)

Correction: A previous version of this review misstated the protagonist's name.